Man exchanged stolen toilet for gift cards

A Windber, Pennsylvania, man has been charged with retail theft after he was observed by a video surveilance allegedly stealing a toilet then directly returning the item for store credit.

Bobby Clifford Smith III, 32, is charged by state police in Somerset with retail theft at Lowes on North Center Avenue in the borough.



Police said Smith took an “up flush” toilet and went directly to the return line where he exchanged the toilet, without a receipt, for $677.34 in gift cards. The accused then left the store with the cards, police said.

Smith was arraigned on Tuesday and taken to Somerset County Jail after failing to post $30,000 bail.